Liquefied gas storage and dispensing system



Dec. 27, 1938.

D. F. YOUNGBLOOD LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISPENSIG SYSTEM Filed June 8, 1937 5 sheets-sheet'l Dec. 27, 1938. v D. F. YoUNGBLooD 2,142,055

LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed June 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1938. D. F, YouNGBLooD LIQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed June 8, 1957 3 VSheets-Sheet 3 Patented osez-1,1938

UNlTED 'STATES' LQUEFIED GAS STORAGE AND DISPEN SING SYSTEM llavid F. Youngblood, San Antonio, Tex.,`assignor ta Southern Steel Company, San Antonio, Tex.,

a corporation of Texas Applicaties: 3, 1937, Serial No. 147,085

l Clanes.

This invention relates to liquefied gas storage and dispensing systems of the general type dis closed in the patent to L. J. White, No. 2,042,439 and, among other objects, aims to provide a greatly improved system for storing and dispensing gas which is generated from highly volatile hydrocarbon liquid fuels, such as butane, propane, isobutane and/or mixtures of the same. 'Ihe main idea is to provide novelmeans for utilizing heat contained in ue gases and/vor hot water delivered from an ordinary heating appliance, such as a standard hot water storage heater, for supplying the necessary heat of vaporization for the stored liquefied gas and/orl l5 for revaporizing any condensate that may be formed in the service pipe.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specication, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing an underground system embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a system above the ground;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-1l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6 oi Fig. 3 and shown on an enlarged scale.

In butane systems of the type disclosed in the aforesaid patent, it has been found that it is necessary to supply some artificial heat to the liquefied gas in a storage tank, even though it may be buried in the ground below the frost 4 0 line, especially when the demand for gas is Very great or in extremely cold climates. Moreover, it is sometimes necessaryA to supply artificial heat to revaporize condensate formed in the gas service pipe. This invention, therefore, provides novel heat exchanging means for supplying or supplementing the heat of vaporization and for revaporizing any condensate in a service pipe, utilizing the wasteheat from a heating appliance, such as a hot water'storage tank, installed in a kitchen or basement and at a safe distance from the storage system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the underground system shown in Fig. l is somewhat similar to the general type of system dis-- '55 closed in the` aforesaid patent. The usual high till. 3122-23) pressure liquefied gas storage tank l0 is buried in the ground, preferably below the frost line and the gas dispensing appliances, including the usual pressure reducing regulator, are housed within a suitable metal casing Il, extending above the 5 ground. The dispensed gas is delivered at low pressure through a low pressure gas service pipe I2, which is also buried underground and has its lowest point adjacent to one end of the tank. The buried tank is arranged in this instance to 10 absorb some of the necessary heat of vaporizatio from the surrounding earth fill.

In accordance with this invention, the heat absorbed from the earth ll is supplemented by waste heat contained in the products of com- 15 bustion from a domestic hot Water storage` heater, here shown for illustrative purposes as comprising an ordinaryhot water heating tank i3 which may or may not have the usual heating coil. It is shown as being heated directly by a gas 20 burner i4 arranged within an insulated casing or spaced jacket I5 supported above the levelof the ground or a iloor, as the case may be, and the whole heater is carried within an outer insulated housing i6 having legs il and a perforated, re- 25 movable bottom wall i8 through which the necessary air for supporting combustion is supplied t'o the burner. Incidentally, the jacket or casing l5 and the tank are supported within the housing it by annular metal brackets i9 which also serve 30 as barriers or bailles to prevent the cold air from circulating around the outsideof the jacket i5.

The burner for the storage heater is shown as being supplied with gas delivered through a pipe 20 connected to the service pipe l2. It has 35 a conventional thermostatic control 2| and the usual pilot (not shown). Cold Water is supplied to the tank by a pipe 22 and hot water is delivered therefrom by a pipe 23, both pipes being shown as extending through the wall of the 40 housing i6.

The housing i6 extends above the top of the insulating jacket l5 and the warm products of combustion from the burner are delivered into the topl of the housing through a ue 24 in the 45 top wall oi the jacket l5.

' An insulated iiue or conduit 25 is shown as being connected to the top chamber of the housing i6 to conduct the warm products of combustion downwardly into the ground and it is 50 shown as being connected to one end of a closed channel 26 conveniently welded to and extending the full length of the bottom of the tank. An outlet ue or conduit 21 is connected to the opposite end of the channel and extends upwardly well above the ground to provide sufficient draft, being shown as having a goose neck or return bend 28 atits upper end to prevent rain from entering it. The arrangement is such that the burnt gas or products of combustion pass through thelength of the channel in heat exchanging relation with the bottom of the tank l0. Even when the burner is not on the pilot will deliver some heat through the flue. In the coldest weather or in very cold climates, the heat supplied in this manner is commensurate lwith the demand for gas because of the greater demand for hot water and the greater quantity of gas necessary to heat it.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the gas service pipe is shown ashaving a condensate receiving conduit or trap 29 connected at its lowest point by a T 30. This conduit is preferably much larger than the service pipe so that it has a substantial capacity and a much greater heat exchanging area. It extends downwardly adjacent to and in heat exchanging relation with the flue 25, being fastened to the flue by suitable clips 3l.

In some installations, especially in cold climates, and where the demand for gas is great, it is necessary to supply even more heat to vaporize the liquefied gas than is afforded by the flue gases. To that end, the hot water pipe 23 is'also shown as being arranged in heat exchanging relation with the tank. In Fig. l, it is insu-v lated above the ground and extends downwardly into the ground where it passes through the channel 26, thence, upwardly and to the house. In this example, conduits or fiues 25 and 21 have Ts 32 carrying stuiiing glands 33 for the pipe 23 where it enters and leaves the flue to make watertight connections. The arrangement is such that all hot Water drawn from the storage heater gives ofi some heat to the gas storage tank. This insures ample heat to vaporize sufficient liquefied gas for a maximum demand.

In some instances, it -is desirable to install the entire system above the ground, even in cold climates. Such a system embodying this invention is shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. It differs from that shown in Figs. l and 3 mainly in that the storage tank and all of the exposed pipes are suitably insulated. In this instance, the service pipe is connected to the upper end of an enlarged conduit 34 which extends into the ground Well below the frost line. its lower end to which the lowest point of the gas main 36 is connected. rI'hat part of the conduit 34 above the ground is arranged in heat exchanging relation with the flue 25', in the same manner as explained in connection with Fig. 1. Both the conduit and the flue are shown as being enclosed within the same insulating jacket. This arrangement permits the delivered gas to absorb some heat from the flue as it passes downwardly to its lowest point and the heat contained in the gas will help to revaporize any condensate which drains back to the lowest point of the service main 36. However, the extension of the revaporizing conduit 34 in the ground below the frost line will also serve as a revaporizing trap because it will absorb sufficient heat from the surrounding earth to revaporize the trapped condensate. This type of system is'much easier and more economical to install than the underground system. Moreover, all of the parts are more easily accessible for repairs and/or replacements. Itis contemplated that it will be used in relatively mild climates in connection with relatively large hot This conduit has a T 35 above' water lheaters which are designed to supply a considerable quantity of hot water.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen thatthe improved heat exchanger and revaporizer is very efficient in operation and economical to use. It eliminates much extra cost of installing separate or independent heat exchanging devices and insures abundant heat to vaporize liquefied gas in the coldest climates and supply the maximum demand. Y Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indspensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-- combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank and a gas service pipe; a gas heating appliance; and a fiue for the products of combustion from the heating appliance connected in heat exchanging relation to said storage tank and the lowest portion' of said gas service pipe. y

2. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank; a heating appliance having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a gas service pipe having a revaporizer for condensate connected to its lowest portion; and a flue for the products of combustion from said gas burner connected to supply heat to said revaporizer.

3. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank; an appliance having a gas burner suppliedwith gas by said system; a heat exchanger associated with said tank; and a flue for the products of combustion from said gas burner extending underground connected to said heat exchanger to supply heating medium to vaporize the liquefied gas according to the gas demand.

4. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank; a water heater having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger including a structural channel having its flanges connected to the bottom of the tank; and a flue for the products of combustion from the water heater connected to said channel.

5. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having a storage tank; a water heater having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger associated with said tank; and a hot water service pipe connected to said water heater and passing through said heat exchanger.

6. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having a storage tank; a waterheater having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger associated with said tank; a fiue for the products of combustion from the Water heater connected to said heat exchanger; and a hot water service pipe also connected to supply additional heat to said heat exchanger.

7. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank; a water heater having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger associated with said tank; a gas service pipe having a revaporizer for condensate connected to its lowest portion; and a ue for the products of combustion from the heater connected to supply heat to said revaporizer and said heat exchanger.

8. In combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having an underground storage tank; a water heater having a gas burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger associated with said tank; a gas service pipe having a revaporizing conduit connected to its lowest portion; and a ue for the products of combustion from the heater` connected to supply heat to said revaporizing conduit and said heat exchanger.'

9. In combination with'a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system of the class described having a storage tank; a water heater having a gasA 3 burner supplied with gas from said system; a heat exchanger including a structural channel connected to the tank; a flue connected to conduct the products of combustion from ythe water heater through said channel, then, to the atmosphere:

and a hot water service pipe extending through said channel to supply additional heat.

10. In 'combination with a liquefied gas storage and dispensing system having an underground storage tank; a domestic water heater above the ground; a flue for the products of combustion from the water heater extending underground adjacent to the tank; a heat exchanger for the tank supplied with heat by said flue; and a hot water service pipe also connected to supply additional heat to said heat exchanger.

DAVID F. YOUNGBLOOD. 

